When the student council voted on whether to move the spring dance from the courtyard to the gym, Priya kept both hands in her lap. She explained afterward that she had helped plan both locations and felt it would be unfair to tip the balance, so she had decided to [abstain].  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "abstain" most nearly means change her mind / walk out of the meeting / choose not to vote / object strongly	choose not to vote — Priya keeps "both hands in her lap" during the vote and does not want to "tip the balance," so she chose not to vote at all.
Owls hunt in near-total darkness. Their [acute] hearing lets them locate a mouse rustling beneath a foot of snow, and their lopsided ear openings, one slightly higher than the other, help them pinpoint exactly where each faint sound is coming from. Few other predators can match them.  What does the word "acute" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? loud and harsh / highly sensitive / slightly damaged / sudden and severe	highly sensitive — The owl's hearing can detect a mouse "rustling beneath a foot of snow," so "acute" here means highly sensitive, not the "sudden and severe" sense used for pain.
After two summers working at her uncle's bike shop, Lena had become [adept] at truing wheels. She could spin a rim, spot a wobble no wider than a hair, and correct it with three quick turns of a spoke wrench while customers watched in amazement.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "adept" as it is used in the excerpt? easily bored / secretly nervous / newly curious / highly skilled	highly skilled — Lena can spot a tiny wobble and fix it "with three quick turns" after two summers of practice, which shows she is highly skilled.
The rocket launch was postponed twice in one week. Engineers had the spacecraft fueled and ready, but [adverse] conditions, including high winds over the launch pad and lightning storms offshore, made it far too risky to proceed. Mission controllers announced a new date and promised to try again as soon as the skies cleared.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "adverse" most nearly means unfavorable / reversed / barely noticeable / unfamiliar	unfavorable — Wind and lightning made the launch "too risky," so the conditions were unfavorable, working against the mission.
The architects insisted that the new library be more than practical. Its curved glass walls added nothing to the number of shelves and cost far more than brick, but they offered an [aesthetic] pleasure that drew visitors who had never borrowed a book in their lives.  What does the word "aesthetic" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? related to science / related to beauty / related to cost / related to safety	related to beauty — The glass walls added no shelves and cost more, yet they drew visitors, so the pleasure they offered came from their beauty.
At the naturalization ceremony, each new citizen stood and [affirmed] a commitment to uphold the laws of the country. Some spoke the words in a whisper and others through tears, but every voice in the hall made the same promise out loud. Afterward, families crowded around to take photographs.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "affirmed" as it is used in the excerpt? declared firmly / questioned openly / forgot quickly / translated carefully	declared firmly — Each person "made the same promise out loud," so they declared their commitment firmly and publicly.
The band's new album was full of harsh electronic noise. Critics praised its daring, but the sudden change in sound [alienated] many longtime fans, who stopped coming to shows and complained online that the group had abandoned the music they loved. Ticket sales for the tour dropped by half.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "alienated" most nearly means paid back / won over / pushed away / surprised pleasantly	pushed away — The fans "stopped coming to shows" and felt "abandoned," so the album pushed them away.
With only forty minutes for the science test, Jamal decided to [allocate] his time carefully: ten minutes for the multiple-choice section, twenty-five for the lab questions, and a final five to check every answer before he handed it in. He finished with a minute to spare.  What does the word "allocate" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? complain about / measure precisely with a stopwatch / waste without much thought / divide up for specific uses	divide up for specific uses — Jamal splits his forty minutes into planned portions for each part of the test, so he divides his time up for specific uses.
At the family reunion, everyone hugged and laughed, but Cousin Mara, who had calmly given a speech to three hundred strangers the day before, stayed by the window with her arms folded. She answered questions politely yet briefly and never asked any of her own, so [aloof] that some relatives wondered whether she wanted to be there at all.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "aloof" as it is used in the excerpt? cool and distant / tired and ill / loud and angry / shy and frightened	cool and distant — Mara stands apart with "arms folded," answers briefly, and asks nothing, so she seems cool and distant; she is not shy or frightened, since the day before she "calmly" spoke to three hundred strangers, and nothing suggests anger or illness.
The note taped to the lab bench said only, "Don't use the blue one." Since there were three blue beakers, a blue funnel, and a blue notebook on the table, the instruction was so [ambiguous] that no one in the class knew which item to avoid.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "ambiguous" most nearly means unclear in meaning / easy to forget / rude in tone / written in a great hurry	unclear in meaning — With several blue items present, "the blue one" could refer to many things, so the note was unclear in meaning.
Theo was [ambivalent] about the move to Chicago. He looked forward to the city's museums and his new robotics team, yet every time he pictured leaving his grandmother's apartment and the friends he had known since kindergarten, his stomach tightened. He packed his boxes slowly, one book at a time.  What does the word "ambivalent" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? completely thrilled about it / firmly opposed / totally uninterested / having mixed feelings	having mixed feelings — Theo looks forward to parts of the move but dreads others ("his stomach tightened"), so he has mixed feelings.
The class constitution originally allowed only seniors to run for student body president. After a petition gathered two hundred signatures, the council voted to [amend] the rule so that any student in grades ten through twelve could appear on the ballot. Three juniors entered the race the very next week.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "amend" as it is used in the excerpt? formally change / publicly read / strictly enforce / quietly ignore	formally change — After a vote, the rule now lets more students run, so the council formally changed it.
To help students picture an atom, Ms. Ortiz offered an [analogy]: if the nucleus were a marble sitting at the center of a football stadium, the electrons would be tiny gnats buzzing around the highest rows of seats. Suddenly the class understood how much of an atom is empty space.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "analogy" most nearly means personal story / comparison that explains / precise scientific measurement / historical fact	comparison that explains — Ms. Ortiz compares an atom to a marble in a stadium to make it easier to picture, so she uses a comparison that explains.
Organizers had expected a crowd for the park cleanup, but only six volunteers arrived. The rest of the neighborhood's [apathy] was hard to miss: people walked their dogs right past the overflowing trash cans without a second glance. By noon, the six volunteers had filled forty bags on their own.  What does the word "apathy" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? lack of concern / deep sadness / strong anger / careful planning	lack of concern — Neighbors walk past the trash "without a second glance" and don't show up, which shows a lack of concern.
The toddler wailed until his older sister handed him the last cracker in the box. That small offering seemed to [appease] him; the crying stopped at once, and he sat on the kitchen floor, munching contentedly. Their mother, hearing the sudden quiet from the next room, peeked in to make sure everything was all right.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "appease" as it is used in the excerpt? scold / calm and satisfy / feed fully / annoy further	calm and satisfy — The crying "stopped at once" and he sat "contentedly," so the cracker calmed and satisfied him; one cracker hardly fed him fully.
When the old train station was abandoned, a group of artists [appropriated] the empty waiting room as a studio. They never asked the city for permission; they simply moved in their easels and paint cans and began working beneath the dusty chandeliers. By the time officials noticed, the room was full of canvases.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "appropriated" most nearly means cleaned thoroughly / found suitable / paid rent for / took over for their own use	took over for their own use — The artists "never asked the city for permission" and simply moved in, so they took over the room for their own use; "found suitable" is the adjective meaning, which doesn't fit here.
The final stretch of the trail climbed nearly two thousand feet over loose rock. Hikers paused every few minutes to catch their breath, and by the time they reached the summit, even the strongest among them agreed that the [arduous] ascent had pushed them to their limits.  What does the word "arduous" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? exhausting and difficult / scenic and well known / short and pleasant / illegal and risky	exhausting and difficult — Hikers had to stop constantly to breathe and were "pushed to their limits," so the climb was exhausting and difficult.
Most of the paintings in the gallery were muted browns and grays, which made the single canvas of blazing orange all the more [arresting]. Visitors who had been strolling past the other works stopped short in front of it, and several pulled out sketchbooks. One young visitor even sat down on the floor to study it.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "arresting" as it is used in the excerpt? striking / forgettable / faded / taking into custody	striking — Visitors "stopped short in front of it," so the painting grabbed their attention; the police meaning of "arrest" makes no sense for a painting.
Moving from Seoul to Queens in seventh grade, Ji-woo [assimilated] quickly. Within a year she was cheering at baseball games, ordering bacon-egg-and-cheese at the corner deli, and slipping New York slang into her texts so naturally that new classmates assumed she'd grown up there. Her parents, meanwhile, were still learning the subway map.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "assimilated" most nearly means stayed apart / returned to her old home / fit into a new culture / became confused	fit into a new culture — Ji-woo adopts local habits and slang so well that people assume she grew up there, so she fit into her new culture.
For years, people [attributed] the mysterious crop circles in English wheat fields to strange whirlwinds or even visitors from space. Then, in 1991, two men admitted that they had made the designs themselves at night, using planks of wood and lengths of rope. Many people were disappointed by the simple explanation.  What does the word "attributed" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? hid from / compared with / described in careful detail / said were caused by	said were caused by — People thought whirlwinds or aliens made the circles until the real makers confessed, so they said the circles were caused by those things.
No one had ever crossed the gorge below Niagara Falls on a rope that thin. Yet in 1859, a French tightrope walker did exactly that, then returned on later walks blindfolded and even carrying a small stove, stopping halfway across to cook an omelet. Crowds called the feat [audacious], though some thought it foolish.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "audacious" as it is used in the excerpt? secretly planned / daringly bold / carefully practiced / completely ordinary	daringly bold — Walking blindfolded and cooking above a gorge is a stunt so daring that "some thought it foolish," so the feat was daringly bold.
To [augment] her income from the bakery, Mrs. Alvarez began teaching weekend bread-making classes in the back room. The extra money from the classes was enough to pay for a second oven by spring, and soon the bakery could fill twice as many orders. She later hired two assistants.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "augment" most nearly means spend / report / add to / replace	add to — The classes brought in "extra money" alongside the bakery's earnings, so they added to her income rather than replacing it.
For questions about bird names, the club relied on one [authoritative] guide. It had been compiled by ornithologists over forty years, and its editors updated it whenever scientists reclassified a species, so members treated it as the final word in any dispute. Arguments about sparrows ended the moment someone opened it.  What does the word "authoritative" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? trustworthy and expert / old and out of date / colorful and very popular / bossy and controlling	trustworthy and expert — The guide was written by experts, kept up to date, and treated as "the final word," so it is trustworthy and expert; a book cannot be bossy.
For centuries, the island was ruled from a distant capital. In 1979, it finally gained [autonomy]: it could now elect its own leaders, pass its own laws, and collect its own taxes, though it remained officially part of the larger nation. Celebrations lasted for a week.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "autonomy" as it is used in the excerpt? self-government / military strength / total isolation / great wealth	self-government — The island could now elect leaders and make its own laws while staying part of the nation, so it gained self-government, not total separation.
The doctor studied the scan for a long moment and then smiled. The small lump on Grandpa's shoulder was [benign], she explained; it would not spread to other parts of his body and needed no treatment beyond a checkup once a year. Grandpa celebrated with a large bowl of ice cream.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "benign" most nearly means growing fast / kind and gentle / very painful / not dangerous	not dangerous — The lump "would not spread" and needed no treatment, so it is not dangerous; "kind and gentle" is another meaning of the word but cannot describe a lump.
Even as a child, Rosa had a mechanical [bent]. While her brothers played outside, she took apart the toaster, the radio, and finally the vacuum cleaner, reassembling each one with only a screw or two left over and a satisfied grin. Her parents soon bought her a toolbox of her own.  What does the word "bent" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? natural talent / curved shape / serious injury / stubborn attitude	natural talent — Rosa naturally gravitates toward taking apart and rebuilding machines, so "bent" here means a natural talent, not something curved.
Lawyers for the museum hoped the newly discovered letters would [bolster] their claim that the painting was genuine. In one letter, the artist described the very scene in the painting and even complained about its cracked frame. Experts who had doubted the painting began to reconsider their opinions.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "bolster" as it is used in the excerpt? hide / strengthen / replace / weaken	strengthen — A letter in which the artist describes the very painting would support the museum's claim, so the letters strengthen it.
The speech lasted barely two minutes, yet people still memorize it more than a century and a half later. Its [brevity] surprised listeners who had expected a long address, but every carefully chosen sentence carried enormous weight. Historians still marvel at how carefully its words were arranged.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "brevity" most nearly means loudness / sadness / shortness / humor	shortness — The speech lasted "barely two minutes" when listeners expected a long one, so its brevity means shortness.
After the subway extension opened, the neighborhood began to [burgeon]. Empty lots became cafés and apartment buildings, a bookstore and two schools opened within a year, and the population nearly doubled before the decade was out. Longtime residents joked that they could barely recognize the streets where they had grown up.  What does the word "burgeon" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? decline slowly / grow rapidly / become dangerous / stay the same	grow rapidly — New buildings appear and the population "nearly doubled," so the neighborhood grew rapidly.
The flood was a [catalyst] for change in the small river town. Within months, residents had formed a planning committee, raised money for new levees, and rewritten the rules about where homes could be built, ending debates that had dragged on for years. Some residents called it the most important month in the town's history.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "catalyst" as it is used in the excerpt? chemical that speeds reactions / source of money / event that sparks action / lasting disaster	event that sparks action — Right after the flood, residents took action on long-delayed plans, so the flood was an event that sparked change; the chemistry meaning does not apply to a flood.
The league did not suspend the coach, but it did [censure] him in an official statement, declaring that his outburst at the referee "violated the spirit of the game" and warning that any repeat would bring harsher penalties. The coach apologized the next morning and promised to keep his temper in check.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "censure" most nearly means fire from his coaching job / officially criticize / secretly reward / take to court	officially criticize — The league issues "an official statement" condemning his behavior but does not suspend him, so it officially criticized him.
As a camp counselor, Elise was responsible for nine restless eight-year-olds. On the nature hike, she counted her [charges] every ten minutes, making sure no small explorer had wandered off the trail to chase a butterfly or poke at a frog. By sunset, all nine had returned to camp muddy but accounted for.  What does the word "charges" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? sudden rushes forward / people in her care / electric currents / fees owed	people in her care — Elise is "responsible for" the children and keeps counting them, so her charges are the people in her care.
For thirty years, the lighthouse keeper on the rocky island [chronicled] life around her in a leather notebook: every storm, every passing ship, every birth and wedding in the village across the water, each entry dated in her neat handwriting. Today her notebooks sit in the town museum.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "chronicled" as it is used in the excerpt? predicted / exaggerated / recorded in detail / complained bitterly about	recorded in detail — She wrote down every event with a date for thirty years, so she recorded life in detail.
The city's new rule banned delivery trucks on Main Street during the festival. To [circumvent] it, the bakery loaded its bread onto cargo bikes, which were still allowed, and pedaled the morning deliveries right past the barricades. Customers received their loaves on time, and the festival organizers could hardly complain.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "circumvent" most nearly means overturn / follow exactly / announce / get around	get around — The bakery found a clever way to deliver without breaking the truck ban, so it got around the rule rather than overturning it.
In the novel, the greedy landlord tries to [coerce] the widow into selling her farm, warning that he will block the only road to her property unless she signs the papers by Friday. The widow, who has lived on the land for fifty years, must decide whether to give in or fight back.  What does the word "coerce" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? politely invite / pressure through threats / legally allow / offer a very generous price to	pressure through threats — The landlord threatens to block her road unless she signs, so he is pressuring her through threats.
Researchers gave the crows a series of puzzles: hooks to bend, levers to pull in the right order, and pebbles to drop into tubes of water. The birds' [cognitive] abilities rivaled those of a seven-year-old child, at least when a bit of meat was the reward.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "cognitive" as it is used in the excerpt? mental / social / physical / musical	mental — Solving puzzles that require planning tests thinking ability, so "cognitive" means mental.
At the start of the season, the team was a collection of talented strangers who rarely passed to one another. By March, they had become a [cohesive] unit, anticipating each other's moves on the court without a single word. They finished the year with the best record in the league.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "cohesive" most nearly means famous / unified / sticky / divided	unified — The players went from strangers to a group that anticipates "each other's moves," so they became unified; "sticky" is the literal science sense of cohesion.
The fire chief [commended] the twelve-year-old who had smelled smoke, called for help, and guided her elderly neighbors out of the building. At a ceremony the following week, she received a certificate and a standing ovation from the entire department. Her neighbors brought her homemade cookies for a month.  What does the word "commended" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? hired / praised / scolded / questioned	praised — The girl receives a certificate and a standing ovation for her quick action, so the chief praised her.
For decades, astronomers debated whether liquid water had ever flowed on Mars. Then the rover sent back photographs of smooth, rounded pebbles of the kind that form only in fast-moving streams, offering [compelling] evidence that it had. Many scientists who had been skeptical changed their minds after studying the images.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "compelling" as it is used in the excerpt? convincing / forced / confusing / incomplete	convincing — Pebbles that form "only in fast-moving streams" strongly suggest water once flowed, so the evidence is convincing.
Realizing that checkmate was unavoidable within three moves, twelve-year-old Mei did not drag out the game. She shook her opponent's hand and gently tipped over her king to [concede], then asked him to show her where she had gone wrong. Her coach later told her that knowing when to stop is a skill too.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "concede" most nearly means accept defeat in the game / request a rematch / take a short break / claim victory	accept defeat in the game — Tipping over her king and shaking hands when checkmate is unavoidable means Mei gave up the game, so here "concede" means accept defeat rather than admit a fact.
The instructions for the fire drill fit on a single index card: "Leave your things. Walk, don't run. Meet at the oak tree." Teachers loved how [concise] they were; even the youngest students could memorize them, and no one could misunderstand them. Longer instructions had confused students in past years.  What does the word "concise" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? funny / long and detailed / brief and clear / strict	brief and clear — Three short sentences on one card that no one could misunderstand are brief and clear.
Ms. Patel did not punish the students who had copied the homework answers, but she made it clear that she did not [condone] what they had done. "Getting away with it once doesn't make it acceptable," she told the class. She asked them to redo the assignment on their own.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "condone" as it is used in the excerpt? report / remember / approve of / understand	approve of — She says copying is not "acceptable," so she does not approve of it, even though she chose not to punish anyone.
Both "thrifty" and "stingy" describe someone who spends little money, but the two words feel very different. "Thrifty" carries a positive [connotation], suggesting good sense, while "stingy" suggests selfishness. A writer describing a grandmother who saves every rubber band would likely choose the first word if she admired the habit and the second if she found it annoying.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "connotation" most nearly means associated feeling / pronunciation / spelling pattern / dictionary definition	associated feeling — The words share a basic meaning but "feel very different," so connotation is the associated feeling a word carries beyond its definition.
Hoping to blend in on her first day at the new school, Nadia wore a plain gray sweater and sat in the back row. Unfortunately, the bright pink cast on her arm made her [conspicuous] anyway, and three classmates asked about it before first period. She sighed and told the story four times by lunch.  What does the word "conspicuous" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? popular / embarrassed and upset / in pain / easy to notice	easy to notice — Nadia wanted to "blend in," but the cast drew questions, so it made her easy to notice.
The architects dreamed of a soaring glass atrium for the new community center, but the tiny budget [constrained] their design. In the end, they settled for a single round skylight above the lobby. They had wanted more light and open space, but the money simply did not stretch that far. Still, the skylight filled the lobby with sunshine every afternoon.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "constrained" as it is used in the excerpt? inspired / explained / limited / doubled	limited — They wanted a large atrium but "settled for a single round skylight," so the budget limited their design.
Jane Austen's novels are beloved today, but [contemporary] reviewers in the 1810s paid them little attention. Many readers of her own era did not even know her name, since her books were published without the author's name on the cover. Only decades later did her reputation grow.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "contemporary" most nearly means unkind / of the same period / foreign-born / present-day	of the same period — The reviewers lived "in the 1810s," during Austen's "own era," so "contemporary" means of the same period, not present-day.
The movie's ending felt [contrived]. Just as the heroes faced certain defeat, a long-lost twin appeared out of nowhere carrying the exact key they needed, even though no earlier scene had hinted that a twin existed. Audiences groaned, and several reviewers said the writers had clearly run out of ideas.  What does the word "contrived" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? sad and moving / realistic and believable / artificial and forced / long and slow	artificial and forced — A surprise twin with the perfect key and no setup is an obviously artificial solution, so the ending is forced.
The detective did not believe the witness at first. But when security footage from the corner store showed the same blue van parked outside at exactly 9:14, just as she had described, the video [corroborated] her account. The detective reopened the case the next morning with new confidence.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "corroborated" as it is used in the excerpt? contradicted / replaced / recorded / confirmed	confirmed — The footage matched what the witness "had described," so it confirmed her account.
The festival's week of concerts, parades, and street fairs will [culminate] on Saturday night with a fireworks show over the harbor, the largest display in the city's history. Organizers have spent months preparing, and hotels near the waterfront are already fully booked. Thousands of spectators are expected to line the piers for the final night.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "culminate" most nearly means slow down / reach its high point / begin / be postponed until next year	reach its high point — The week ends with the "largest display in the city's history," so the festival reaches its high point.
The heat wave forced the city to [curtail] outdoor activities for the week. Summer camps shortened their afternoon sessions, pools closed an hour early, and the start of the charity race was moved to dawn. Officials promised that the usual schedule would return as soon as temperatures dropped below ninety degrees.  What does the word "curtail" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? extend / cancel entirely / celebrate / cut back	cut back — Sessions were "shortened" and pools closed early, so activities were cut back, not canceled entirely.
Staring up at the climbing wall, which rose sixty feet to the gym's ceiling, Kai felt his palms begin to sweat. For a first-time climber, the challenge was [daunting], and he nearly turned back before his instructor clipped the rope to his harness and told him to focus only on the next handhold.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "daunting" most nearly means thrilling and fun / boring / intimidating / simple	intimidating — Kai's sweating palms and near decision to turn back show that the climb made him nervous, so it was intimidating.
The early settlers chose the valley for its rich soil, but a [dearth] of fresh water nearly drove them out. In dry summers, families hauled barrels from a creek nine miles away, and more than one household packed its wagon and left before the town was ten years old.  What does the word "dearth" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? abundance / shortage / sudden flood / pollution	shortage — Families had to haul water from nine miles away, and some left, so there was a shortage of fresh water.
The fever lasted only four days, but it [debilitated] Grandma so badly that she needed a walker for weeks afterward. Even short trips to the mailbox left her breathless, and it was nearly spring before she could tend her tomato plants again. Her doctor said recovery from such illnesses often takes far longer than the illness itself.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "debilitated" as it is used in the excerpt? cured completely / surprised / annoyed / weakened	weakened — Grandma needed a walker and was "breathless" after short trips, so the fever weakened her badly.
After testing the old iron bridge for a month, engineers [deemed] it unsafe for cars but sturdy enough for people on foot. The town closed it to traffic, painted the railings green, and turned it into a walking path lined with benches and flower boxes.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "deemed" most nearly means built / judged / repaired / named	judged — After testing, the engineers reached a conclusion about the bridge's safety, so they judged it unsafe for cars.
In [deference] to the elderly fishermen who had worked the pier for decades, the young anglers always waited until the old men had chosen their spots before casting their own lines. Some mornings the teenagers stood for twenty minutes with their rods, never complaining. The older men nodded their thanks each time.  What does the word "deference" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? indifference / fear / respect / rivalry	respect — The teens patiently wait for the older fishermen to choose first "without complaining," which shows respect, not fear or rivalry.
The Hawks trailed by eighteen points at halftime, and the home crowd had gone quiet. In the locker room, the coach told the players that the [deficit] was not too large to overcome. Sure enough, a burst of three-pointers in the fourth quarter tied the score with a minute to play.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "deficit" as it is used in the excerpt? lack of talent / amount of money the team owed / list of injured players / number of points behind	number of points behind — The team "trailed by eighteen points" and later "tied the score," so the deficit is the number of points they were behind, not money.
Before the group project began, Mr. Osei [delineated] each team member's role. One student would research, another would build the model, a third would write the report, and the fourth would present to the class. With every job spelled out, there were no arguments about who should do what.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "delineated" most nearly means drew a careful picture of / described precisely / chose at random / changed often	described precisely — Each job is "spelled out" so clearly that no one argues, so Mr. Osei described the roles precisely; he did not draw anything.
Environmental groups [deplored] the decision to dump dredged mud near the coral reef. In a joint statement, they called the plan "a disaster for an ecosystem that took thousands of years to grow" and urged the agency to choose a different site before any damage was done.  What does the word "deplored" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? proudly announced to reporters / quietly accepted / carefully studied / strongly condemned	strongly condemned — The groups called the plan "a disaster" and urged a change, so they strongly condemned it.
Studies of teenagers suggest that staring at bright screens late at night can be [detrimental] to sleep. The blue light tricks the brain into thinking it is still daytime, delaying the release of the hormone that makes us drowsy and leaving many students exhausted in first-period class.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "detrimental" as it is used in the excerpt? harmful / helpful / unrelated / necessary	harmful — Screens delay the sleep hormone and leave students "exhausted," so they are harmful to sleep.
Many nineteenth-century children's stories were openly [didactic]. A boy who told a lie would tumble into a river; a girl who shared her bread with a beggar would be rewarded with a fortune. Each tale ended with its lesson spelled out in capital letters, just in case a young reader had missed it.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "didactic" most nearly means written mainly for adults / intended to be funny / full of wild adventure / meant to teach morals	meant to teach morals — Each story punishes bad behavior, rewards good behavior, and ends with "its lesson spelled out," so the stories were meant to teach morals.
Although she had memorized every line, Carmen was [diffident] at the audition. She spoke so softly that the director had to ask her twice to repeat herself, and before each song she apologized in advance for any mistakes she might make. The director later told her she had talent but needed to trust it.  What does the word "diffident" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? well prepared / unsure of herself / impatient / boastful about her talent	unsure of herself — Carmen speaks softly and apologizes ahead of time, so she is unsure of herself; "well prepared" is true of her memorizing but is not what the word describes.
Professor Lin often [digressed] during her lectures. A talk on volcanoes might drift into a story about her childhood in Hawaii, then into the history of pineapples, before she laughed, apologized, and returned to the subject of magma. Students found her side stories charming, though their notes were sometimes hard to follow.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "digressed" as it is used in the excerpt? spoke too quickly / raised her voice in anger / repeated herself / wandered off the topic	wandered off the topic — A volcano lecture drifts into unrelated stories before she "returned to the subject," so she wandered off the topic.
The head chef tasted the soup and set the spoon down with obvious [disdain]. "Canned broth," she said, wrinkling her nose, and she poured the entire pot down the drain while the new cook watched in silence. The new cook vowed never to open a can in that kitchen again.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "disdain" most nearly means confusion / surprise / scorn / delight	scorn — Wrinkling her nose and pouring the soup away shows she thought it was beneath her standards, which is scorn.
In the 1920s, some older musicians [disparaged] jazz, calling it mere noise and warning that it would ruin young people's taste. A century later, the same music is studied at the finest conservatories in the world. Some critics also mocked the first recordings, claiming that serious musicians would never play such songs.  What does the word "disparaged" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? performed in public / compared to classical music / spoke of with contempt / invented	spoke of with contempt — Calling jazz "mere noise" that would "ruin" taste shows the musicians spoke of it with contempt.
In the study, the [disparity] between the two schools was striking. One had a laptop for every student and a fully stocked science lab, while the other shared a single cart of twenty aging computers among six hundred students and held chemistry lessons in an ordinary classroom.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "disparity" as it is used in the excerpt? close friendship / long distance between them / great difference / shared goal	great difference — One school has far more resources than the other, so the disparity is a great difference.
Before the printing press, ideas traveled slowly, copied by hand one book at a time. Gutenberg's invention allowed scholars to [disseminate] their work across Europe within months, reaching thousands of readers they would never meet in cities they would never visit. Within fifty years, millions of printed books were in readers' hands.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "disseminate" most nearly means spread widely / translate into other languages / keep secret / sell cheaply	spread widely — The press let scholars reach "thousands of readers" across Europe, so they could spread their work widely.
The old botanist was [dogmatic] about his theory of how orchids spread. When younger researchers brought him plants that contradicted it, he refused even to look at the samples and insisted that the evidence must be flawed. His students eventually published their findings without him, and the theory was abandoned within a decade.  What does the word "dogmatic" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? widely respected / deeply confused / openly curious / rigidly certain	rigidly certain — Refusing to look at contradicting evidence shows he is rigidly certain he is right.
The café's playlist was gloriously [eclectic]. A Bach cello suite might be followed by Brazilian samba, then a 1980s pop hit, then a traditional Irish ballad, and regular customers liked to guess what might come next. Even the decorations matched the music: Moroccan lamps, a Japanese paper screen, and a jukebox from a 1950s diner.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "eclectic" as it is used in the excerpt? old-fashioned / extremely loud / carefully arranged by era / drawn from many styles	drawn from many styles — The playlist jumps from classical to samba to pop to folk, so it is drawn from many styles.
Before the new malaria vaccine could be approved, researchers had to prove its [efficacy]. In trials involving thousands of children across four countries, it reduced cases of the disease by more than seventy percent, a result that health officials called a turning point. Doctors hope it will save tens of thousands of lives each year.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "efficacy" most nearly means low cost / ease of storage / effectiveness / wide popularity	effectiveness — The proof needed was that the vaccine "reduced cases" by seventy percent, which shows its effectiveness.
The comedian's first joke [elicited] only a few polite chuckles from the audience. He loosened his tie, tried a story about his grandmother's parrot, and by the end of the night the whole theater was roaring with laughter. Afterward, he admitted that the first five minutes had been the hardest of his career.  What does the word "elicited" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? brought out / prevented / imitated / silenced completely	brought out — The joke produced "a few polite chuckles," so it brought out a small reaction.
To many sailors, the old lighthouse [embodied] the village itself: steady, weathered, and always there to guide them home through the fog. When storms finally toppled its tower, fishermen said it felt as though the town had lost its heart. Today a small model of it sits in the town hall.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "embodied" as it is used in the excerpt? was much taller than / stood beside / represented in solid form / lit up brightly	represented in solid form — The lighthouse is described as having the same qualities as the village and its loss feels like losing "its heart," so it represented the village in solid form.
Medieval scholars often relied on ancient books to explain the natural world. Galileo took a more [empirical] approach: he rolled balls down ramps, timed swinging pendulums, and peered through his telescope at the moons of Jupiter to see for himself. His findings sometimes contradicted the old books, which got him into serious trouble.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "empirical" most nearly means based on observation / based on ancient texts / purely theoretical / highly secretive	based on observation — Galileo tested and watched things "to see for himself" instead of relying on books, so his approach was based on observation.
Growing up, Darnell watched every game his older sister played and tried to [emulate] her smooth jump shot. He practiced in the driveway until dark, again and again, until he could release the ball with the very same flick of the wrist. Years later, sportswriters described his shot using the same words they had once used for hers.  What does the word "emulate" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? coach / criticize / defeat / imitate	imitate — Darnell practices until he can shoot with "the very same flick of the wrist," so he is trying to imitate her.
Several well-known scientists [endorsed] the students' proposal for a rooftop garden. They wrote letters to the school board praising its benefits for both learning and the environment, and one even offered to visit the school to help plant the first seeds. The board approved the garden at its very next meeting.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "endorsed" as it is used in the excerpt? questioned / signed the back of / publicly supported / rewrote in their own words	publicly supported — The scientists wrote letters "praising" the plan and offered to help, so they publicly supported it.
At first, Principal Okafor refused even to [entertain] the idea of a four-day school week. But after reading studies from districts that had tried it, she agreed to bring the proposal to the board for discussion. Several board members were surprised that she had changed her mind so completely, since she had once called the plan unrealistic.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "entertain" most nearly means consider / host / amuse / make fun of	consider — She later agrees to bring the proposal for discussion after first refusing, so "entertain" means consider; you cannot amuse or host an idea.
Mayflies spend up to a year as larvae at the bottom of streams, growing slowly in the mud. Their adult lives, however, are [ephemeral]: most live only a single day, just long enough to mate and lay eggs before they die. Trout feed eagerly on the swarms that rise from the water on summer evenings.  What does the word "ephemeral" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? beautiful / very brief / spent underwater / dangerous	very brief — Adults live "only a single day," so their adult lives are very brief.
When Grandma's quilt collection was divided among her six grandchildren, the family wanted an [equitable] arrangement. Each grandchild chose one quilt in turn, and the youngest went first because she had helped stitch several of them. No one left feeling cheated. Even the oldest cousin, who had hoped for the youngest's favorite, admitted that the system made sense.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "equitable" as it is used in the excerpt? fair / secret / quick / generous	fair — Taking turns with a reasonable rule so that "no one left feeling cheated" makes the arrangement fair.
Smallpox once killed millions of people every year. After a worldwide vaccination campaign, health officials announced in 1980 that the disease had been [eradicated]. No natural case has been recorded anywhere on Earth since 1977, and the virus now exists only in a few locked laboratory freezers.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "eradicated" most nearly means spread more widely than before / studied closely / eliminated completely / reduced slightly	eliminated completely — No case has appeared anywhere since 1977, so the disease was eliminated completely, not just reduced.
A popular article claimed that goldfish have memories lasting only three seconds. The claim, though often repeated, is [erroneous]: in experiments, goldfish learned to push a lever for food and remembered how to do it months later. Researchers suspect the myth may have started as a joke.  What does the word "erroneous" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? widely known / incorrect / recently made / harmless	incorrect — Experiments show goldfish remember things "months later," so the three-second claim is incorrect.
The lecture on the meter of medieval Icelandic poetry was so [esoteric] that only three people in the audience, all specialists in the field, asked questions afterward. Everyone else nodded politely and quietly checked the time. The speaker did not seem to mind; she clearly loved her subject.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "esoteric" as it is used in the excerpt? very short / extremely popular with everyone / understood by few / badly organized	understood by few — Only specialists could engage with the lecture, so it was understood by few.
Scratching a mosquito bite may feel good for a moment, but it only [exacerbates] the itch. Breaking the skin releases more of the chemicals that make the bite swell, and it can let in bacteria that cause an infection. Doctors recommend a cold cloth instead.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "exacerbates" most nearly means relieves / temporarily hides / makes worse / prevents	makes worse — Scratching causes more swelling and possible infection, so it makes the itch worse.
The violin maker was famously [exacting]. If the curve of a scroll was off by even a millimeter, she tossed the piece aside and began again, and her apprentices learned to measure every cut three times before touching a chisel to the wood. Her instruments now sell for more than many cars.  What does the word "exacting" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? extremely demanding / quick and careless with tools / generous / forgetful	extremely demanding — Rejecting work that is off by "a millimeter" shows she was extremely demanding.
The Flatiron Building [exemplifies] the bold spirit of early skyscraper design. Its narrow triangular shape squeezed a twenty-two-story tower onto an awkward wedge of Manhattan land, and when it opened in 1902, crowds gathered on the sidewalk just to stare up at it. Architects still study it today.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "exemplifies" as it is used in the excerpt? rejects / differs sharply from the style of / replaces / serves as an example of	serves as an example of — The building shows exactly what bold early skyscraper design looked like, so it serves as an example of that spirit.
Tearing out the old wiring would have been the safe choice, but the landlord found it more [expedient] to cover the cracked outlets with tape and hope that no inspector noticed before the new tenants moved in. When an inspector finally did visit, the landlord was fined heavily for the shortcut.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "expedient" most nearly means expensive / quick and convenient / difficult / safe and lawful for everyone	quick and convenient — The landlord chose the shortcut over "the safe choice," so taping the outlets was quick and convenient, not safe.
The rules for the science fair were [explicit]: no open flames, no live animals, and no project taller than six feet. They were printed on the entry form in bold type, so no student could later claim to have misunderstood them. Teachers handed out the form a full month before the fair.  What does the word "explicit" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? very strict / clearly stated / recently changed / rarely enforced	clearly stated — The rules were printed in bold so no one "could later claim to have misunderstood them," so they were clearly stated.
Mr. Kim returned Ana's lab report with half the pages crossed out in red. The section on her favorite color and the story about her cat were [extraneous], he wrote in the margin; a lab report should include only details that help explain the experiment.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "extraneous" as it is used in the excerpt? too short / unrelated to the topic / excellent / factually incorrect in places	unrelated to the topic — Mr. Kim says a report should include "only details that help explain the experiment," so the cat story was unrelated to the topic.
Being a doctor involves much more than diagnosing illness. Dr. Ruiz says the most rewarding [facet] of her job is getting to know families over many years, watching babies she once delivered grow up and eventually bring their own children to her office. She says the paperwork, by contrast, is the part she could happily do without.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "facet" most nearly means salary / polished surface / work schedule / aspect	aspect — Dr. Ruiz is describing one part of her work that she finds rewarding, so "facet" means aspect; the gem meaning does not apply to a job.
Many people believe that after a coin lands heads five times in a row, tails is "due" to come up next. This is a [fallacy]: a coin has no memory, and each new flip still has exactly the same fifty-fifty chance as the first one did.  What does the word "fallacy" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? clever trick / mistaken belief / lucky streak / mathematical rule	mistaken belief — The passage explains that the belief is wrong because "a coin has no memory," so a fallacy is a mistaken belief.
By the twentieth mile of the marathon, Rina's energy began to [flag]. Her stride shortened, her shoulders slumped, and runners she had passed an hour earlier began to pull ahead of her, one after another. At mile twenty-two, she grabbed a cup of water from a volunteer, took a deep breath, and slowly found a second wind.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "flag" as it is used in the excerpt? weaken / mark for review / surge / wave a signal	weaken — Her stride shortens and other runners pass her, so her energy began to weaken; the "signal" and "mark" meanings do not fit a runner's energy.
The judge dismissed the lawsuit as [frivolous] within minutes. The man had sued his neighbor for one million dollars because, he claimed, her wind chimes sounded "too cheerful" on gloomy mornings and were ruining his mood. The neighbor, who had to take a day off work to appear in court, was not amused.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "frivolous" most nearly means fair / silly and not serious / complicated and technical / expensive	silly and not serious — Suing over "too cheerful" wind chimes is ridiculous, so the judge found the lawsuit silly and not serious.
News that the community pool would close for good [galvanized] the neighborhood. Within a week, residents had organized a petition, packed a council meeting, and raised enough money to keep the doors open for at least one more summer. Even neighbors who had never met before were soon working side by side.  What does the word "galvanized" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? spurred to action / divided / coated with a layer of metal / calmed	spurred to action — Residents quickly organized and raised money after the news, so it spurred them to action; the metal-coating meaning does not fit people.
Unlike his quiet twin, Omar was [gregarious]. At every family gathering he moved from table to table, swapping jokes with his uncles, teaching card tricks to the little ones, and introducing himself to cousins he'd never met. His aunt joked that he could make a friend out of a lamppost.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "gregarious" as it is used in the excerpt? sneaky / competitive / sociable / studious	sociable — Omar mingles, jokes, and meets new people, unlike his quiet twin, so he is sociable.
Rescue crews reached the stranded hikers by midday, but thick fog [hampered] the helicopter's approach. The pilot circled for nearly an hour before a gap in the clouds finally allowed a safe landing on the narrow ridge. All four hikers were flown out safely before dark.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "hampered" most nearly means hurried / hindered / guided / physically damaged	hindered — The fog forced the pilot to circle for an hour, so it got in the way of the approach; nothing was damaged.
Hikers who [heeded] the ranger's warning turned back at the first rumble of thunder. Those who ignored it found themselves scrambling down slippery rock in a downpour, and two had to wait out the storm huddled under a ledge. The ranger said afterward that storms in the canyon arrive with very little notice.  What does the word "heeded" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? overheard / repeated aloud / paid attention to / doubted	paid attention to — Those who heeded the warning are contrasted with "those who ignored it," so heeding means paying attention to it and acting on it.
In a wolf pack, a strict [hierarchy] shapes daily life. The leading pair eats first, younger wolves wait their turn, and a low-ranking wolf may be driven away from the meal entirely. Even play fights help remind each member where it stands. Scientists studying wolves in the wild have observed this order for decades.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "hierarchy" as it is used in the excerpt? family tree / territory / ranking system / method of hunting together	ranking system — Wolves eat in order of rank and know "where it stands," so a hierarchy is a ranking system.
The company promised that no workers would lose their jobs after the merger. Six months later, when two hundred employees were let go in a single afternoon, that promise rang [hollow], and the remaining staff stopped believing anything management said. Several longtime employees soon left for other jobs.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "hollow" most nearly means insincere / loud / empty inside / generous	insincere — The promise was broken and staff "stopped believing" management, so it rang insincere; a promise cannot be empty inside like a log.
The coach lectured the team for ten minutes about never, ever being late. The next morning, he strolled onto the field forty minutes after practice began, sipping a smoothie. The players were quick to point out his [hypocrisy]. The coach laughed, apologized, and ran two extra laps alongside them.  What does the word "hypocrisy" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? habit of arriving late to practice / failure to follow his own rule / love of smoothies / strict rules	failure to follow his own rule — The coach demands punctuality but shows up late himself, so the players point out his failure to follow his own rule; being late alone is not hypocrisy.
The founders of the farming community shared a single [ideology]: property should be held in common, no member should earn more than any other, and every decision must be made by unanimous vote. These beliefs shaped everything from their housing to their harvest schedules. Visitors were often surprised by how strictly the rules were followed.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "ideology" as it is used in the excerpt? detailed building plan / leader / family history / set of beliefs	set of beliefs — The founders shared a list of principles that "shaped everything," so an ideology is a set of beliefs.
For centuries, scientists assumed that the continents were [immutable], fixed in place since Earth first formed. Only in the 1960s did new evidence from the ocean floor prove that they drift slowly, a few centimeters each year, and have rearranged themselves many times. Even today, the shapes of the continents continue to shift.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "immutable" most nearly means unchangeable / mostly uninhabited / enormous / very ancient	unchangeable — Scientists thought the continents were "fixed in place" until they learned the continents move, so "immutable" means unchangeable.
As the judges announced the scores, the other gymnasts gasped, cried, or threw their arms around their coaches. Yuki remained [impassive], her face giving away nothing, though her hands trembled slightly at her sides. Only when she reached the locker room, far from the cameras, did she finally allow herself a small, shaky smile.  What does the word "impassive" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? impatient / passionate / expressionless / visibly exhausted	expressionless — Unlike the others, Yuki's "face giving away nothing" shows she was expressionless.
The vaccine had to stay colder than minus seventy degrees, or it would spoil within hours. Because the nearest clinic was a six-hour drive away, it was [imperative] that the freezer trucks leave on time; a single breakdown on the mountain road could ruin the entire shipment.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "imperative" as it is used in the excerpt? nearly impossible to achieve / spoken as a command / politely suggested / absolutely necessary	absolutely necessary — A single delay "could ruin the entire shipment," so leaving on time was absolutely necessary; nothing in the excerpt describes anyone giving an order.
For years the empty lot on Delancey Street held nothing but weeds and broken glass. Then a spring flood swept trash from the lot into every basement on the block. The mess gave the neighbors the [impetus] they needed: within a month they had formed a committee, and by fall the lot was a vegetable garden.  What does the word "impetus" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? serious obstacle / push to take action / final result / official permission	push to take action — The flood is what pushed the neighbors to act, because right after it they "formed a committee"; it caused the garden rather than being its result or something blocking it.
Old Tobias had sailed with Captain Reyes for twenty years and placed [implicit] faith in her judgment. When she ordered the crew to turn back only a mile from port, the younger sailors grumbled and demanded reasons, but Tobias simply began hauling in the sails without a single question.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "implicit" most nearly means complete and unquestioning / cautious and partial / publicly announced to everyone / hinted but not stated	complete and unquestioning — Tobias follows the order "without a single question" while others demand reasons, so his faith is total. The more common meaning, "hinted but not stated," is the trap here.
The discovery was [inadvertent]. A lab technician, rushing to catch a train before a long weekend, forgot to cover a dish of bacteria. When she returned on Tuesday, a fuzzy mold had grown in one corner, and around it the bacteria had mysteriously vanished, leaving a clear, clean ring.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "inadvertent" as it is used in the excerpt? widely doubted / long delayed / accidental / carefully planned	accidental — The technician was rushing and "forgot" to cover the dish, so the discovery happened by accident, not by plan.
Among the glass towers of the financial district stood a tiny wooden farmhouse, built two centuries earlier and somehow never torn down. With its sagging porch, rocking chair and pots of geraniums, it looked utterly [incongruous] beside the steel skyscrapers and rushing taxis, like a page torn from a different book.  What does the word "incongruous" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? badly damaged / recently built / out of place / perfectly suited	out of place — The farmhouse looks "like a page torn from a different book" next to skyscrapers, so it clearly does not fit its setting. It was built "two centuries earlier," so it is not new.
At first the detective dismissed the muddy footprint by the greenhouse as [inconsequential]. Half the town had tramped through the garden during the festival that week, after all. Only much later, rereading her notes by lamplight, did she realize the print had been the single clue that pointed to the thief.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "inconsequential" most nearly means freshly made / suspicious / illogical / unimportant	unimportant — She "dismissed" the print because so many people had walked there, so she thought it did not matter; she only later saw it was the key clue.
Each member of the polar research team packed only what she could carry, and every object had to earn its place. Of all their gear, the satellite phone proved [indispensable]. When their guide slipped on the ice and broke his ankle, it was their only way to call the plane that flew him back to base.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "indispensable" as it is used in the excerpt? too expensive / rarely used / absolutely necessary / impossible to throw away	absolutely necessary — The phone was "their only way" to call for help, so the team could not have managed without it.
Argon makes up almost one percent of the air we breathe, yet it almost never joins with other elements. Because the gas is so [inert], museums pump it into display cases that hold ancient documents; unlike oxygen, it will not attack the fragile ink and paper, so pages stay readable for centuries.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "inert" most nearly means invisible to the eye / lazy and slow to get moving / heavy and dense / chemically unreactive	chemically unreactive — Argon "almost never joins with other elements" and "will not attack" the paper, so here "inert" is the chemistry sense of unreactive; "lazy" describes a person or animal.
With no money for an electric pump, the villagers designed an [ingenious] system for lifting water out of the deep well. An old bicycle wheel, a long loop of rope and a dozen tin cans were joined so that each turn of the pedals scooped up water and tipped it into a trough.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "ingenious" as it is used in the excerpt? expensive / innocent and trusting / risky / cleverly inventive	cleverly inventive — The villagers turned a bicycle wheel, rope and tin cans into a working pump, which shows clever invention; they had "no money," so the system was not expensive. "Innocent and trusting" matches "ingenuous," a different word.
Every sport carries some [inherent] danger. A rock climber can check her ropes a hundred times and train for years, yet the mountain itself, with its loose stones and sudden storms, will always remain beyond her control. Climbers accept this as part of the sport rather than a problem to be solved.  What does the word "inherent" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? built-in and unavoidable / passed down from parents / easily removed / greatly exaggerated	built-in and unavoidable — The danger comes from "the mountain itself" and is "part of the sport," so it is built in and cannot be removed; nothing in the excerpt is passed down in a family.
No one could remember inviting the new assistant to the planning meetings. Yet within a month he had [insinuated] himself into every one of them, always arriving early with coffee, a helpful question and a seat already saved, until the managers began to assume he had always belonged there.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "insinuated" most nearly means politely excused himself / loudly forced his way inside / unpleasantly hinted / gradually worked his way	gradually worked his way — He gets into the meetings slowly and quietly, with coffee and helpful questions, until people assume he belongs; that is working one's way in, not hinting or forcing.
For centuries the valley village remained [insular]. Few residents ever traveled beyond the mountain pass, strangers were greeted with suspicion, and new inventions arrived, if they arrived at all, decades after the rest of the country had adopted them. Even the local dialect sounded old-fashioned to visitors.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "insular" as it is used in the excerpt? crowded and noisy / located on a small, distant island / cut off from outside influence / warm and welcoming	cut off from outside influence — Residents rarely left, distrusted strangers and adopted new ideas late, so the village was closed off. It sits in a mountain valley, which rules out the island meaning.
The keystone at the top of a stone arch looks like just one more wedge among dozens. Yet it is [integral] to the structure. It locks the stones on either side in place, and if workers remove it, the whole arch collapses into a heap of rubble within seconds.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "integral" as it is used in the excerpt? purely decorative / unusually heavy / mathematically exact / essential to the whole	essential to the whole — Removing the keystone makes "the whole arch" collapse, so the stone is essential to the structure, not decoration.
The [intrepid] reporter had already crossed a desert by camel and ridden out a typhoon on a cargo ship. So when the editor asked for a volunteer to spend a night alone in the abandoned lighthouse that locals swore was haunted, she raised her hand before he had finished the sentence.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "intrepid" as it is used in the excerpt? inexperienced / fearless / dishonest / exhausted	fearless — She has crossed a desert and survived a typhoon, and she volunteers instantly for a scary assignment, so she is fearless; her many trips show she is not inexperienced.
The animal shelter expected to sell a few dozen cookies at its bake sale. Then a popular radio host mentioned the event on the morning show, and by noon the volunteers were [inundated] with orders: four hundred dozen, far more than their tiny kitchen and three ovens could ever produce.  What does the word "inundated" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? overwhelmed / soaked with water / disappointed / bored	overwhelmed — Orders for "four hundred dozen" are "far more" than the kitchen could handle, so the volunteers were overwhelmed; nothing in the scene involves water.
Half the audience expected the debater to lose. But in her closing argument she [invoked] the town's original 1890 charter, unfolding a photocopy and reading aloud the forgotten clause that promised every child a free public library within walking distance. The judges, who had never heard of the clause, scribbled notes furiously.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "invoked" most nearly means summoned with a spell / rewrote completely / cited as support / quietly ignored	cited as support — She reads the charter's clause aloud to strengthen her argument, so she is citing it as support; she does not rewrite or ignore it.
The firehouse had won the city's fire-safety award three years running, and the chief had polished the trophy for the celebration dinner. So there was a certain [irony] when the oven in the firehouse kitchen began to smoke during dessert, and the guests of honor had to grab their own extinguishers.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "irony" as it is used in the excerpt? a reversal of what was expected / a lucky coincidence / a bitter insult / a dangerous accident in the kitchen	a reversal of what was expected — Award-winning safety experts having a kitchen fire is the opposite of what anyone would expect, which is irony; the smoky oven is not described as dangerous or lucky.
The pamphlet was meant to help parents understand the new report cards, yet it was packed with [jargon]: "scaffolded differentiation," "learning modalities," "formative benchmarks." Most families read it twice, shrugged, and called the school office to ask what any of it actually meant in plain English.  What does the word "jargon" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? spelling errors / colorful pictures and charts / rude remarks / specialized language	specialized language — The quoted phrases are terms only educators use, and families had to call to ask what they meant, so the pamphlet was full of specialized language.
With only forty dollars to feed four campers for an entire weekend, Tomas walked the grocery aisles slowly and made [judicious] choices: a sack of rice instead of chips, a single bag of oranges, beans in bulk, and no souvenirs at the register. He even returned home with three dollars to spare.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "judicious" as it is used in the excerpt? sensible / selfish / legal / hasty	sensible — Tomas walks "slowly," picks filling cheap food and still saves money, so his choices are wise; "legal" is a trap based on the word "judge."
The exhibit's most popular wall [juxtaposes] two photographs of the same Brooklyn street corner. The first, from 1925, shows pushcarts, horses and children in caps; the second, from last spring, shows bike lanes, glass storefronts and a food truck. Visitors stand between them, pointing back and forth.  What does the word "juxtaposes" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? hides from view / sets side by side / enlarges greatly / blends into one image	sets side by side — Visitors point "back and forth" between the two separate photos, so the wall sets them side by side to compare; they are not blended or hidden.
Lena had never cared much for science until the class trip to the tide pools. Kneeling on the wet rocks, she watched a starfish slowly pry open a mussel, and something clicked. That afternoon [kindled] an interest in marine biology that she would carry all the way through college and into her career.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "kindled" most nearly means set on fire / tested / sparked / ended	sparked — The trip started a lasting interest that she "would carry" through college, so "kindled" means sparked; nothing is literally burned.
Some viruses can remain [latent] in the body for years. They hide inside nerve cells, copying themselves rarely if at all and causing no symptoms, until stress, illness or even a bad sunburn wakes them, and the familiar blister reappears as if from nowhere, sometimes decades later.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "latent" as it is used in the excerpt? inactive but present / easily cured / slow to arrive / extremely deadly to humans	inactive but present — The viruses "hide inside nerve cells" and "causing no symptoms" until something wakes it, so it is present but inactive.
By the middle of August, the zoo's polar bear had grown [lethargic]. Instead of swimming laps in her pool as she did in spring, she sprawled on the cool concrete for hours at a time, ignoring the visitors at the glass and even the frozen fish the keepers tossed in to tempt her.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "lethargic" most nearly means sluggish and inactive / forgetful / hungry / aggressive	sluggish and inactive — She stops swimming, sprawls "for hours" and ignores even food, so she has little energy; ignoring fish rules out "hungry."
For two days the fever kept Grandpa confused; he called the nurses by his sisters' names and asked what year it was. On the third morning, though, he was [lucid] again. He asked for his reading glasses, recognized each of us by name, and complained loudly about the hospital oatmeal.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "lucid" as it is used in the excerpt? brightly lit / see-through / thinking clearly / well written and organized	thinking clearly — Grandpa goes from confused to recognizing everyone and asking for his glasses, so "lucid" means mentally clear here, not a description of writing or light.
Having won the championship by a single point, the captain could easily have gloated. Instead she was [magnanimous]. She shook every opponent's hand, praised their defense to the reporters, and insisted that the other team's injured goalie stand beside her in the winners' photograph that would hang in the gym.  What does the word "magnanimous" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? unusually huge in size / boastful / generous and gracious / secretive	generous and gracious — Instead of gloating, she praises and includes her rivals, which is generous behavior toward an opponent.
At twelve, my opinions were [malleable]. Whatever my older cousin said about music, movies or even breakfast cereal became, by dinnertime, what I believed too. Only in high school, when I started arguing with her for the first time, did I realize how many of my tastes had really been hers.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "malleable" most nearly means kept secret / easily shaped by others / fixed and stubborn / able to be hammered flat	easily shaped by others — The narrator adopted whatever the cousin said, so the opinions were easily shaped by another person; the metal-working sense does not apply to opinions.
The library's copy of the old novel was crowded with [marginal] notes. Beside nearly every printed paragraph, in the narrow strip of white along the edge, some long-ago reader had penciled tiny comments, arguing with the author, underlining favorite lines and once, simply, writing "No!"  What does the word "marginal" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? minor and unimportant / printed by machine / written in the margins / careless and very hard to read	written in the margins — The notes sit "in the narrow strip of white along the edge," so here "marginal" means in the margin. The reader's lively comments are not described as minor.
The reporters shouted questions over one another, waving microphones and phones. The mayor, however, gave a [measured] reply. She waited until the room was quiet, chose each word with care, and promised only what she knew the city could actually deliver before thanking everyone and stepping away.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "measured" most nearly means calculated with a ruler / angry and defensive / rushed and confused / calm and careful	calm and careful — She waits for quiet and "chose each word with care," so her reply is calm and deliberate; nothing is physically measured.
The model-train builder in the basement of the old firehouse was nothing if not [meticulous]. Each tiny streetlamp in his miniature town was wired by hand, each window painted with a brush of a single hair, and each brick on the station drawn to scale from photographs of the real building.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "meticulous" as it is used in the excerpt? quick and efficient / messy and careless / fearful of making any mistakes / careful about every detail	careful about every detail — Hand-wired lamps, one-hair brushes and bricks "drawn to scale" show extreme attention to detail; nothing suggests speed or fear.
Engineers cannot stop earthquakes from happening, but they can [mitigate] the damage. In Tokyo, many towers rest on thick rubber pads that let them sway instead of cracking, and gas pipes are made to bend rather than burst, so a quake that might have flattened a city now leaves most buildings standing.  What does the word "mitigate" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? lessen the severity of / predict the exact timing of / cause / measure	lessen the severity of — The pads and flexible pipes make a quake less destructive, so "mitigate" means lessen; engineers "cannot stop" the quake itself.
Algebra teachers like to warn their students about the final step. One careless slip with a minus sign at the very end can [negate] an entire page of otherwise perfect work, because the answer comes out wrong no matter how carefully every earlier line was solved.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "negate" as it is used in the excerpt? cancel out / copy / repeat / improve	cancel out — One slip makes the answer wrong "no matter how carefully" the rest was done, so it cancels out the earlier work.
In the waiting room before the audition, everyone else paced, hummed scales or bit their nails. Jae, however, sat [nonchalant] in the corner, legs crossed, flipping through a magazine about fishing as if he were waiting for a bus rather than the chance of a lifetime.  What does the word "nonchalant" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? sleepy / calm and unconcerned / rude and unfriendly to others / nervous	calm and unconcerned — Jae relaxes with a magazine "as if he were waiting for a bus" while everyone else is anxious, so he is calm and unconcerned.
A dictionary can tell you what a word means, but a skilled translator listens for the [nuances] a dictionary misses. In English, a friend who "stops by" sounds welcome, while one who "drops in unannounced" sounds a little rude, though both people have done exactly the same thing.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "nuances" most nearly means foreign accents / official rules / subtle shades of meaning / obvious spelling mistakes	subtle shades of meaning — The example shows two phrases with the same basic meaning but slightly different feelings, which is what subtle shades of meaning are.
The guides warned us that the mule was famously [obstinate]. Sure enough, halfway up the canyon trail it planted all four hooves and stopped. No amount of coaxing, carrots or tugging on the rope could move it a single step until, twenty minutes later, it decided on its own to walk again.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "obstinate" as it is used in the excerpt? confused / frightened / stubborn / exhausted	stubborn — The mule ignores all coaxing and only moves when "it decided on its own," which shows stubbornness; nothing suggests it was scared or tired.
Tomato seeds sprout fastest at about eighty degrees. Below seventy, they sprout slowly; above ninety-five, many never sprout at all. Gardeners who keep their seed trays near the [optimal] temperature, often with a heating mat, can see green shoots poking through the soil in less than a week.  What does the word "optimal" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? most favorable / lowest possible / average / dangerous	most favorable — Eighty degrees makes seeds sprout "fastest," while cooler or hotter temperatures slow them, so the optimal temperature is the best one.
Scouts who watched the young pitcher for the first time often laughed. His delivery was anything but [orthodox]: he threw sidearm, hopped on one foot and paused in the middle of his windup. Yet batters swung at empty air again and again, and by midseason no one in the league was laughing.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "orthodox" most nearly means painful / slow / effective / conventional	conventional — Scouts laughed because sidearm throws and one-foot hops are not the normal way to pitch, so "anything but orthodox" means unconventional; the strikeouts show the delivery was effective.
The new mansion on the hill was [ostentatious] to the point of comedy. It had gold faucets in every bathroom, a fountain carved to look like the owner's face, and a driveway lit up so brightly at night that neighbors complained they could read by it from across the valley.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "ostentatious" as it is used in the excerpt? showy / modest / ancient / comfortable	showy — Gold faucets, a fountain of the owner's face and blazing lights are meant to show off, so the mansion is showy; it is described as "new," not ancient.
For the engineers who designed the new pedestrian bridge, safety was [paramount]. Cost, speed and even beauty mattered, and they argued about all three. But every single decision was tested first against one question that outranked the others: could this ever fail, even once, in a century of storms?  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "paramount" most nearly means of highest importance / shaped like a mountain / uncertain / hotly debated	of highest importance — Safety is the question that "outranked the others," so it was of highest importance; it was cost and beauty that were argued about.
Mrs. Lindqvist insisted that she judged the county-fair pie contest fairly. Still, everyone in town knew she was [partial] to anything with rhubarb in it. Three summers running, the blue ribbon had gone to a rhubarb pie, and this year two bakers entered rhubarb pies just to be safe.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "partial" as it is used in the excerpt? only partly finished / allergic to / especially fond of / unaware of	especially fond of — Rhubarb pies keep winning and bakers enter them "just to be safe," so she especially likes rhubarb; the "incomplete" meaning does not fit a judge's taste.
Critics praised the film's stunning underwater photography and its haunting score. Its dialogue, however, they called [pedestrian]: flat, predictable lines that sounded as if they had been copied from a hundred older movies, delivered by actors who seemed just as bored as the audience in the half-empty theater.  What does the word "pedestrian" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? hard to hear / dull and ordinary / related to walking / too formal	dull and ordinary — The lines are "flat" and "predictable," as if copied from older films, so here "pedestrian" means dull, not anything to do with walking.
Only a [perceptive] reader notices the pattern. In every chapter where the narrator tells a lie, the author mentions that his coffee has gone cold. The book never explains this small detail, but readers who catch it begin to doubt almost everything the narrator says.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "perceptive" most nearly means observant and insightful / suspicious and unfriendly / forgiving / fast-reading	observant and insightful — Catching an unexplained pattern of cold coffee takes sharp observation; nothing in the excerpt is about speed of reading.
At the stadium gate, the security guard was clearly tired after a long shift. He gave our bags a [perfunctory] glance, barely lifting the flaps with one finger, and waved us through without looking up from the line of fans stretching behind us all the way to the parking lot.  What does the word "perfunctory" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? thorough and painstaking / friendly / quick and careless / suspicious	quick and careless — He "barely" lifts the flaps and doesn't look up, so his check is quick and done without care.
Reporters arrived expecting a fight over the new school mascot, but that argument proved [peripheral] to the board meeting. It took up barely ten minutes. The real battle was over the budget, which kept board members and parents debating for more than four hours, long past midnight.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "peripheral" most nearly means kept secret / located at the outer edge / of minor importance / extremely heated	of minor importance — The mascot debate took "barely ten minutes" while the budget was "the real battle," so it was a minor side issue.
Weeks after the wildfire had passed, the smell of smoke was still [pervasive] in the cabin. It clung to the curtains and the sofa cushions, hid in the folds of clean towels, and even rose from the pages of books that had been closed in drawers the whole time.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "pervasive" as it is used in the excerpt? spread throughout / sudden / faint / pleasant	spread throughout — The smell is in curtains, cushions, towels and even closed books, so it has spread everywhere; lasting "weeks" rules out "sudden."
For many young engineers, the first moon landing was a [pivotal] night. Years later, dozens of them told interviewers that watching the grainy black-and-white broadcast was the moment they decided what to do with their lives, and some went on to build rockets of their own.  What does the word "pivotal" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? very expensive / life-changing / spinning in a circle / quickly forgotten	life-changing — Watching the landing is when they "decided what to do with their lives," so it was a turning point.
The architects had dreamed of crowning the new library with a sweeping glass dome. The town council took a more [pragmatic] view. A flat roof, members pointed out, would cost half as much, leak far less in the winter storms, and could support a row of solar panels to cut the electric bill.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "pragmatic" as it is used in the excerpt? idealistic / artistic / practical and realistic / careless	practical and realistic — The council focuses on cost, leaks and electric bills instead of the dream dome, which is a practical view.
The climbers' camp was [precarious]. Three small tents were pinned with metal stakes to a ledge barely wider than a sidewalk, with a thousand-foot drop on one side and a wall of loose, cracking rock on the other. All night, pebbles pinged off the tent poles.  What does the word "precarious" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? dangerously unstable / overcrowded / warm and comfortable / short-lived	dangerously unstable — A narrow ledge between a huge drop and loose rock is dangerous and insecure, which is what "precarious" means.
When the judge allowed a high school journalist to record the hearing, she set a [precedent]. Within a year, three other courts in the state had adopted the same rule, each one citing her decision in its written order as the reason student reporters should be welcomed.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "precedent" most nearly means an audio recording of the hearing / a punishment / a stern warning / an example for later cases	an example for later cases — Other courts later "adopted the same rule" and cited her decision, so it became an example for later cases; the recording is what she allowed, not what she set.
A broken wrist did not [preclude] Ana from competing at the state gymnastics meet. She simply switched from the uneven bars to the floor and vault events, practicing her routines with one arm in a cast, and she still finished third overall among forty competitors.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "preclude" as it is used in the excerpt? encourage / delay / prevent / excuse	prevent — Ana still competed and placed third, so the injury did not stop her; "preclude" means prevent.
Visitors to the state park often expect oaks and maples, and a few of each do grow along the riverbank. But pine is by far the [predominant] tree in the park, covering nearly eighty percent of the hills and filling the summer air with the sharp smell of resin.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "predominant" most nearly means most common / rarest / oldest / tallest	most common — Pine covers "nearly eighty percent of the hills," so it is the most common tree; nothing is said about height or age.
The novel's [premise] is simple enough to fit on the back cover: one morning, every person on Earth wakes up able to understand the speech of animals. The remaining three hundred pages follow a shy zookeeper in Queens as she discovers what the elephants have been saying about visitors for decades.  What does the word "premise" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? building and its grounds / main character's name / basic idea of the story / surprise ending	basic idea of the story — The "simple" idea on the back cover is what the rest of the book grows from, so it is the basic idea the story is built on; the zookeeper is a character, not the premise.
In the old mountain kingdom, choosing the date of the spring festival was the queen's [prerogative]. Councils could advise her, farmers could plead for a later date and astronomers could study the stars, but no one else had the power to decide, and no festival began until her messenger rang the bell in the square.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "prerogative" most nearly means unpleasant duty / honest mistake / favorite pastime / special right	special right — "No one else had the power to decide," so choosing the date was a right that belonged only to the queen.
The village council had planned to spend the evening debating new benches for the park, and several residents had brought sketches. But a far more [pressing] matter took over the meeting before the first sketch was shown: overnight, the town's only water main had cracked, and half the houses had no running water.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "pressing" as it is used in the excerpt? urgent / boring / weighty in pounds / squeezing	urgent — A broken water main that left houses without water needs attention right away, so "pressing" means urgent, not physically squeezing anything.
Claiming he needed to borrow a pencil, Theo stopped at the new student's desk on his way back from the pencil sharpener. The pencil, however, was only a [pretext]. Three pencils were already sticking out of his own backpack, and what he really wanted was to ask whether she would join the debate team.  What does the word "pretext" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? solemn promise / first draft / small gift / false excuse	false excuse — Theo already had three pencils, and "what he really wanted" was something else, so asking for a pencil was a false excuse.
Hummingbirds have a [prodigious] appetite. To power wings that beat as many as fifty times a second, a single bird may visit a thousand flowers in a day and drink more than its own body weight in nectar, then spend the night in a near-hibernation to save every bit of energy.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "prodigious" as it is used in the excerpt? seasonal / enormous / picky / childlike	enormous — Drinking more than its own weight in nectar and visiting a thousand flowers shows a huge appetite; "childlike" plays on the word "prodigy."
After the first dumpling truck drew lines around the corner of Canal Street, others [proliferated]. By the following summer, two dozen trucks crowded the curb every lunchtime, selling everything from tacos to Ethiopian stews, and the city had to paint new parking lines just for them.  What does the word "proliferated" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? disappeared / complained / multiplied rapidly / competed fiercely for customers	multiplied rapidly — One truck became "two dozen" within a year, so the trucks multiplied rapidly.
Though few readers today remember her name, the author was astonishingly [prolific]. Her publisher once joked that she wrote faster than he could read. Over a forty-year career she published more than ninety novels, along with a dozen plays, several books of poems and hundreds of long letters answering questions from her readers.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "prolific" most nearly means very wealthy / extremely careful / highly productive / famous for a long time	highly productive — Ninety novels plus plays and poems show a huge output; "few readers today remember her name," so "famous for a long time" does not fit.
My little brother has a [propensity] for turning every errand into an adventure. A trip to the corner store for milk once ended, two hours later, with him leading three lost tourists to the right subway platform and teaching them how to say "thank you" the way our grandmother does.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "propensity" as it is used in the excerpt? secret plan / natural tendency / deep fear / strong dislike of errands	natural tendency — The errands "every" time become adventures, so this is something he naturally tends to do, not a fear or a plan.
After a year studying in Tokyo, Rosa found her old friends' conversations strangely [provincial]. They talked only about local gossip and the county fair, and whenever she mentioned the art, food or ideas she had encountered abroad, they changed the subject as if nothing beyond the county line could possibly matter.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "provincial" most nearly means rural and scenic / rude and hostile / narrow in outlook / formal and official	narrow in outlook — The friends care only about local matters and dismiss anything "beyond the county line," so their talk is narrow in outlook; nothing describes scenery.
Organizers of the citywide chess tournament released a [provisional] schedule on Monday. Round times, they warned, could still shift by an hour or more once the number of players was known, and the final version would be posted at the door on the morning of the event.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "provisional" as it is used in the excerpt? final and official / kept secret / well stocked with supplies / temporary	temporary — Times "could still shift" and a "final version" would come later, so the schedule is temporary; "well stocked" plays on the word "provisions."
Dr. Patel opened her talk by calling the new allergy medicine "a real breakthrough." A moment later she [qualified] her enthusiasm. The drug had been tested on only forty patients, she reminded the audience, and results in a larger, more varied group might turn out to be far less impressive.  What does the word "qualified" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? toned down / repeated loudly / earned a place for / proved correct	toned down — Right after the praise she adds warnings about a small test group, so she limits or tones down her enthusiasm; nothing is earned or proved.
Mina was in a [quandary]. If she told the teacher who had dropped the microscope, her best friend would lose her spot on the field trip; if she stayed silent, the whole class would lose lab privileges for a month. Each choice seemed to hurt someone she cared about.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "quandary" most nearly means terrible temper / difficult dilemma / frantic hurry / happy celebration	difficult dilemma — Both choices "seemed to hurt someone," so Mina faces a hard decision with no good option.
Visitors were puzzled when the science museum began closing every Monday. Its [rationale] was posted on a sign by the front door: with fewer visitors that day, staff could clean the galleries, repair the interactive exhibits and train new guides without crowds in the way.  What does the word "rationale" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? reasoning / formal apology / yearly budget / weekly schedule	reasoning — The sign explains why the museum closes, listing its reasons, so "rationale" means reasoning; the closing day itself is the schedule.
All winter, the girl next door shoveled the old man's sidewalk before school without being asked, sometimes before the sun was up. In the spring he [reciprocated], spending three weekends in his garage building her a wooden birdhouse painted in her favorite shades of green and gold.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "reciprocated" most nearly means complained loudly to her parents / returned the favor / moved away / refused her help	returned the favor — He builds her a gift after months of her help, so he returned the favor.
On the morning after the championship, the newspaper misspelled the new chess champion's name in a giant front-page headline. Readers noticed within minutes. The editors [rectified] the mistake the next day, printing a correction, an apology and a full-page photograph with her name spelled out in bold.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "rectified" as it is used in the excerpt? excused / corrected / repeated / concealed	corrected — The editors print "a correction" and spell the name properly, so they fixed the mistake.
Spacecraft are built with [redundant] systems. A probe headed for Jupiter may carry two main computers, three power supplies and spare thrusters, so that if one part fails millions of miles from home, another can take over at once, and the mission continues without anyone noticing a problem.  What does the word "redundant" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? unreliable / outdated / wordy and needlessly repetitive / duplicated as a backup	duplicated as a backup — The extra computers and power supplies exist so that "another can take over," so here "redundant" means duplicated for backup, not wordy.
Before the class boarded the ferry to the island, Ms. Alvarez [reiterated] the rule she had already announced in the classroom and printed on the permission slip: no one leaves the group without a buddy. Then, as students rolled their eyes, she said it one more time for good measure.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "reiterated" as it is used in the excerpt? changed slightly to be clearer / repeated for emphasis / cancelled / whispered	repeated for emphasis — She had "already announced" and printed the rule, and she says it again "one more time," so "reiterated" means repeated.
Once the new laptops arrived, the school's old desktop computers were [relegated] to a storage closet in the basement. There they sat for years behind broken chairs and stacks of outdated textbooks, gathering dust, until a robotics club finally rescued them for spare parts to build its robots.  What does the word "relegated" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? returned to the company that made them / sold to a buyer / moved to a lower place / repaired and updated	moved to a lower place — The computers are pushed into a basement closet to gather dust, which is a less important place; they were not repaired or sold.
The blizzard of 1888 [rendered] the city's roads impassable. Snowdrifts taller than a streetcar buried entire blocks, telegraph wires snapped under the weight of ice, and for nearly a week many New Yorkers could not reach their jobs, their schools or even the corner store.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "rendered" most nearly means painted / made / gave back / melted	made — The storm caused the roads to become impassable, so "rendered" means made; nothing is given back or painted.
Cutting the late after-school bus saved the district a small amount of money, but the [repercussions] were felt for years. Attendance at clubs dropped by half, several teams could no longer field a full roster, and students who lived far away simply stopped staying after the final bell.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "repercussions" as it is used in the excerpt? money saved / angry complaints from parents / echoing sounds / unwelcome effects	unwelcome effects — The dropping attendance and empty rosters are results that followed the cut, so "repercussions" are its unwelcome effects.
Years after publishing the theory that made him famous, the geologist [repudiated] it entirely. In a short, startling letter to the journal that had printed his work, he wrote that new rock samples had convinced him he had been wrong from the very start and urged students to stop citing him.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "repudiated" most nearly means rejected / defended / repeated / expanded	rejected — He says he "had been wrong from the very start" and asks students to stop citing him, so he rejected his own theory.
Although Ellis agreed to lead the troop's first overnight camping trip, he had serious [reservations]. The forecast called for thunderstorms after midnight, half the group had never pitched a tent, and the only flashlight with fresh batteries belonged to a nine-year-old who refused to share it.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "reservations" as it is used in the excerpt? excited hopes / booked campsites / doubts / packed supplies	doubts — Storms, inexperienced campers and one working flashlight are reasons to worry, so "reservations" here are doubts, not bookings.
When the rain began on the fourth straight day of their beach vacation, the family met it with [resignation]. Nobody complained anymore. They simply shrugged, unpacked the board games and the jigsaw puzzle, and stopped checking the forecast on their phones every hour of the day.  What does the word "resignation" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? formally quitting a job / quiet acceptance / sudden panic / loud anger	quiet acceptance — "Nobody complained anymore" and they "simply shrugged," so the family calmly accepted the rain; no one leaves a job.
Usually [reticent] in class, Priya had spoken perhaps a dozen sentences all year, most of them answers to direct questions. So the whole school was astonished when she stepped up to the microphone at the town meeting and delivered a fiery ten-minute speech against the plan to close the branch library.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "reticent" most nearly means talkative and lively / late and disorganized / quiet and reserved / rude	quiet and reserved — Priya had spoken only "a dozen sentences all year," which is why her speech astonished everyone; she is normally quiet.
For a decade, riders had heard promises that the crumbling subway line would be rebuilt. This time, the commuters at the hearing said, they wanted action, not [rhetoric]: new trains running on new tracks, not more speeches with grand phrases about the trains of the future.  What does the word "rhetoric" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? statistics and numbers / the formal study of persuasive writing / impressive but empty talk / rumors	impressive but empty talk — The riders contrast "action" with "speeches with grand phrases," so here "rhetoric" means impressive talk without results.
When officials discovered that the team's bats had been illegally hollowed out and filled with cork, the league [sanctioned] it harshly. Two wins were stripped from its record, the coach was suspended for a full season, and the school was barred from the playoffs for two years.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "sanctioned" most nearly means funded / praised / approved / punished	punished — Stripped wins and a suspension are penalties, so here "sanctioned" means punished, not the other meaning of officially approved.
Before handing over sixty dollars for the used bicycle, Omar [scrutinized] every inch of it. He spun each wheel and listened for scraping, squeezed the brakes until his hands ached, and ran a fingertip along the frame in search of tiny cracks the seller might have painted over.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "scrutinized" as it is used in the excerpt? repaired / criticized / admired silently / examined closely	examined closely — Spinning wheels, testing brakes and hunting for tiny cracks show careful examination, not repair.
The cheerful chatter in the newsroom turned [sober] when the editor stepped onto a desk and announced that, after ninety years, the paper would print its final issue on Friday. Reporters set down their coffee, and for a long moment the only sound was a phone ringing that no one answered.  What does the word "sober" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? loud and frantic / plain and dull in color / hopeful / serious and subdued	serious and subdued — The chatter stops and no one answers the phone after sad news, so the mood becomes serious and quiet; nothing describes colors.
Before redesigning the playground in Marcus Garvey Park, the parks department [solicited] ideas from the people who would use it most. Staff set up drawing tables at three elementary schools, and children sketched everything from rope bridges to a slide shaped like a dragon's tail.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "solicited" as it is used in the excerpt? sold / rejected / copied / asked for	asked for — The department sets up drawing tables so children can share ideas, so it asked for their input.
Through four months of physical therapy after the accident, Gabe remained [stoic]. Friends who visited the clinic were amazed by him. He never once complained about the aching exercises, never asked to skip a session, and greeted his therapist each morning with the same quiet question: "What's next?"  What does the word "stoic" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? uncomplaining / furious / playful / frail	uncomplaining — Gabe "never once complained" and keeps asking for the next exercise, so he endures the pain without complaint.
The orchestra had reached the quiet, final chord of the symphony when the fire alarm's [strident] shriek cut through the concert hall. Violinists froze mid-bow, a child in the balcony covered her ears, and the conductor lowered his baton with a look of pure disbelief.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "strident" most nearly means soft and soothing / musical / harsh and loud / far away	harsh and loud — The alarm "cut through" the hall and made a child cover her ears, so its sound was harsh and loud.
Whether the enormous red sculpture in the lobby is beautiful is entirely [subjective]. One visitor may stand before it for half an hour, moved nearly to tears, while the next walks straight past it toward the elevators, wondering aloud why anyone would pay for a painted pile of steel.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "subjective" as it is used in the excerpt? related to a school subject / proven by experts / forced on others / based on personal opinion	based on personal opinion — Two visitors react in opposite ways to the same sculpture, so whether it is beautiful depends on personal opinion.
In a wolf pack, [subordinate] members, whatever their age or size, lower their tails and flatten their ears when the leaders approach. At a fresh kill, they wait at the edge of the clearing until the dominant pair has eaten, then rush in to share what remains.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "subordinate" most nearly means sick / younger / disobedient / lower in rank	lower in rank — These wolves lower their tails and wait until the "dominant pair" eats, and "whatever their age" rules out "younger," so they are lower in rank.
The glider's first test flight ended in a crash into the hay bales after only four seconds. [Subsequent] flights went far better, however: the students moved the wing forward an inch, then two, and by the fifth attempt the glider floated across the field for nearly a full minute.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "Subsequent" as it is used in the excerpt? secret / earlier / dangerous / later	later — The flights after the first crash improved "by the fifth attempt," so "subsequent" means later.
The two roommates had never once discussed it, yet a [tacit] agreement ruled their tiny kitchen. Whoever cooked dinner never washed the dishes, whoever finished the milk bought more, and neither of them ever touched the last slice of pizza without first sliding the box across the table.  What does the word "tacit" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? written / temporary / unfair / unspoken	unspoken — The roommates "had never once discussed" their system, yet both follow it, so the agreement is unspoken.
Skeptics doubted that a free tutoring program could change anything at the middle school. After two years, though, it had produced [tangible] benefits: average reading scores had risen by eleven points, absences had fallen by a third, and twice as many eighth graders applied to selective high schools.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "tangible" most nearly means imaginary / clear and measurable / short-lived / able to be touched by hand	clear and measurable — Test scores and absence rates are numbers, not objects, so here "tangible" means clear and measurable; the results lasted "two years," so they were not short-lived.
It was [telling] that the chef, who praised every dish on his menu to anyone who would listen, never once ate at his own restaurant. On his nights off, his staff noticed, he walked three blocks to a tiny noodle shop and ordered the same bowl of soup.  What does the word "telling" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? fortunate / spoken aloud / revealing / rude	revealing — The chef's choice to eat elsewhere reveals what he really thinks of his food, so "telling" means revealing; nothing is said aloud.
For decades, some scientists argued that birds had evolved completely separately from dinosaurs. Once researchers began unearthing fossils of small dinosaurs with feathered arms, however, that theory was no longer [tenable], and within a decade most textbooks had been rewritten to describe birds as living dinosaurs.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "tenable" most nearly means able to be rented / dangerous / ancient / defensible	defensible — The fossils undercut the old theory and textbooks were rewritten, so the theory could no longer be defended.
The article claimed that eating chocolate makes people smarter, but its evidence was [tenuous] at best. It rested on a single small chart showing that countries where people eat more chocolate also tend to have more prize-winning scientists, a pattern that could easily have other explanations.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "tenuous" as it is used in the excerpt? convincing / secret / weak / lengthy	weak — The evidence rests on "a single small chart" with possible "other explanations," so it is weak.
Noah climbed the ladder to the ten-meter platform with growing [trepidation]. At the top, his knees trembled, his toes curled over the rough edge, and the pool below looked about the size of a postage stamp. Twice he stepped back toward the ladder before taking a deep breath.  What does the word "trepidation" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? impatience / excitement / pride / fear	fear — Trembling knees and stepping back toward the ladder show fear, not excitement.
The six-hour bus ride with thirty overtired eighth graders proved [trying] for the chaperones. Someone's music leaked from cheap earbuds, two boys argued about the window seat for an hour, and by the third rest stop even the most patient parent was sitting with her head in her hands.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "trying" as it is used in the excerpt? attempting / putting someone on trial in court / exhausting and difficult / fun and lively	exhausting and difficult — The noise and arguing leave even the most patient parent with "her head in her hands," so the ride was hard to put up with.
In the 1990s, pay phones were [ubiquitous] in New York City. They stood on nearly every corner and lined every subway platform, and people kept pockets full of quarters just in case. Today, most teenagers in the city have never dropped a coin into one.  What does the word "ubiquitous" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? rare / expensive / found everywhere / frequently broken	found everywhere — Phones "on nearly every corner" and "every subway platform" were everywhere.
For centuries the river slowly [undermined] the cliff below the old lighthouse. Each spring flood washed away a little more of the soft clay at its base, until one stormy night the rocky ledge above, with nothing left to hold it up, cracked loose and slid into the water.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "undermined" most nearly means carefully measured the height of / strengthened / secretly betrayed / wore away from below	wore away from below — The river washes away clay "at its base" until the ledge has "nothing left to hold it up," so it wore the cliff away from below.
The storm that struck the Pacific coast that January was [unprecedented]. The town's oldest residents had never seen waves crash over the seawall, and the weather records, which went back to 1870, contained nothing that came close to the eight inches of rain that fell in a single afternoon.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "unprecedented" as it is used in the excerpt? mild / brief / accurately predicted / never seen before	never seen before — Neither the oldest residents nor records since 1870 show anything like it, so the storm had never happened before.
When Jamal admitted at dinner that he was nervous about starting high school, his older sister didn't laugh. Instead she [validated] his worry, telling him she had felt exactly the same way at fourteen and that being nervous meant he cared about doing well, not that something was wrong with him.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "validated" most nearly means stamped as official / treated as reasonable / increased / dismissed	treated as reasonable — His sister tells Jamal she felt "exactly the same way" and that nervousness is normal, so she treats his worry as reasonable; nothing is made official.
Deep inside an Arctic mountain, a seed vault stores millions of seeds at well below freezing. Kept that cold and dry, many of them stay [viable] for centuries; when scientists thaw and plant a sample, the seeds sprout as readily as on the day they were harvested.  Which phrase best describes the meaning of "viable" as it is used in the excerpt? practical as a plan / able to grow / frozen solid / valuable to sell	able to grow — The seeds still "sprout as readily as" when harvested, so they remain able to live and grow.
For years, the townspeople laughed at the retired engineer who insisted that an old mine tunnel ran beneath Main Street and would one day give way. When the road finally sagged into a deep hollow, harmlessly, at three in the morning, she was [vindicated], and the mayor asked her to inspect every street in town.  What does the word "vindicated" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? proven right / embarrassed / rescued / punished	proven right — The road collapsed exactly as she predicted and the mayor asks for her help, so she was proven right.
Gasoline is highly [volatile]. Leave the cap off a can in a hot garage and much of the fuel will drift away as invisible vapor within a few hours, which is why mechanics keep cans tightly sealed and why the fumes can be smelled from across the room.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "volatile" most nearly means quick to evaporate / expensive / thick and sticky / short-tempered and moody	quick to evaporate — The fuel "will drift away as invisible vapor," so here "volatile" means evaporating quickly, not a person's temper.
As the summer [waned], the little beach town slowly emptied. Shop owners nailed plywood over their windows, lifeguards stacked their tall white chairs behind the bathhouse, and by the middle of September only the gulls and a few stubborn fishermen remained on the cold sand.  What does the word "waned" most likely mean as it is used in the excerpt? was celebrated / grew hotter / began / drew to a close	drew to a close — Shops close and the beach empties by September, so the summer was gradually ending.
Reviewers praised the new stadium's sweeping views of the harbor and its comfortable seats. Its plumbing, however, was sadly [wanting]: on opening day there were only six restrooms for twenty thousand fans, and the lines stretched so long that many people missed the entire second half.  As it is used in the excerpt, the word "wanting" most nearly means inadequate / desiring / missed by friends / excessive	inadequate — Six restrooms for twenty thousand fans is not nearly enough, so the plumbing was inadequate; "desiring" is the more common meaning of "want."
